Safety roller skate



March 10, 1936. F. H. GOOSMANN SAFETY ROLLER SKATE Filed April 13, 19352.Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS. I

March 10, 1936. F. H. GO'OSMANN SAFETY ROLLER SKATE Filed April is, 19552 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VENTOR.

ATT RNEYS Patented Mar. 10, 1936 SAFETY ROLLER, SKATE Fred H.GoosmanmCincinnati, Ohio Application April 13, 1935, Serial No. 16,223

13 Claims.

This invention relates to roller skates, more particularly to improvedlow hung, long wheelbase, self-steering, safety roller skates-whichrequire but little skill for their use andenjoyment, and which aresuited for outdoor, rink or theatrical skating.

The recent revival of roller skating as a sport for children and adultshas been hampered in its growth of popularity by reason of theinadequacy of the skates heretofore available for safe use byinexperienced skaters. These old type skates can be used only by adeptroller skaters, whose skill has been acquired by long practice. Thedesign of these skates is such that the wheels thereof are placed closeto or nearly directly under the load center on the skate frame, whichdesign presumably has been intended to facilitate easy directioncontrol. This construction provides poor load distribution with respectto the stability and balance of the skater upon the skate unless theproper feel is previously acquired by the skater. The culmination of thedesign tendency in respect to" this type of skate is exhibited by thedevices used by theatrical skating performers, wherein the wheel base ofthe skate is shortened as much as possible to providea very shortsteering radius.

These special theatrical skates obviously represent the antithesis of asafety skate suitable for use by one who is not thoroughly familiar andcompetent at the art of skating.

This invention is based on the perception that the high hung rollerskates heretofore known are not adapted to be used by inexperiencedpersons because of their inherent instability when in use.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved low hung orunderslung roller skate axles being mounted for yielding movementincompound directions, to permit controlled steering of the skate by thefoot of the skater tiltring incident to curve executions.

Another object of this invention is to pro-- vide a low hung rollerskate having a long wheel-base in which the users weight is loaded onthe skate frame over an appreciable area longitudinally intermediate ofthe wheels, the

length of the loading area being appreciably lessthan the length of thewheel-base.

It is another object of my invention to pro--;

vide a long wheel base roller skate of'stabilized rideability whereonone is able to positively and.

directly control ones direction of movement even in intricate figureskating by rocking of ones foot or feet.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved axlemounting permitting.

, yielding orfiexible movement in compound directions, in which thesensitivity of steering for the purpose of illustration.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a. transverse sectional View taken on the line 4% of Figure1, showingthenesting of the frame channels.

Figure'5 is acrosssectional view through the steering yoke taken on line5--5 of Figure 1.

FigureG is a cross sectional view taken on the line 66 of Figure 1,showing the construction of the-toe clamps with respect to the frameandsole plate.

Figure 7 is a plan view of the underside of the skate, showing thewheels in steering position for a right hand turn.

' Figure 8 is a front elevation, the front wheels. being shown inright-hand turning position.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary cross sectional view, showing a modificationof the axle pivot journal.

Briefly, the skate of this invention comprises a longitudinal frame,preferably of channel iron construction having sides formed to present astreamline appearance, yokes or axle mountings disposed at the front andrear extremities of saidframe to project therefrom and carry said framein low hung or underslung .relation with the upper face of the framerelatively close to the skating surface for stability, axles carried bysaid axle mounting housings in yieldable pivoted engagement therewithfor compound movement complementary and proportional to the tilting ofthe frame to one side or to the otherduring the execution of curves, andwheels rotatively carried by said axles externally of the frame.

Referring to the drawings which disclose one .7 skate of a pair, alongitudinal frame, extensible as to length to accommodate Varying footsizes, is generally-indicated at IU. prises a front frame portion H inthe form of This frame coma channel having dependingiformed sides I2;I2,

the top of which is curved upwardly toward the front extremity thereof,and a rear frame portion I3 of similar channel form having downwardlydepending sides It, i9, of suitable width for telescopic adjustmentwithin the front frame channel II. The rear frame portion I3 issubstantially straight in longitudinal cross section, and the forwardextremity thereof lies in nested telescopic engagement with the rearwardportion of the front frame channel I I, the sides I i, I4, lying withinand adjacent the sides I2, I2, respectively.

Medially of the length of the front channel, outwardly projecting soleplate supports I5, I5, are provided, one for each side. Theseprojections are preferably made by partially blanking the same, exceptat the upward edge, from the side channels I2, I2, respectively, andsubsequently upwardly bending the same whereby,

the projections are caused to lie in the general curvilinear plane ofthe upper web of the front channel II. This construction affords a toeclamp mechanism aperture through the channel sides I2-, I2, andfurthermore provides a rigidified sole plate mounting.

A sole plate I9 generally configurated in the form of a shoe sole andshaped to conform generally to the upward longitudinal curve of thefront channel II, is rigidly symmetrically mounted, preferably by spotwelding or the like, to the upper web of the front channel I i and tothe support projections I5, IS.

The rear frame channel I3 is longitudinally slotted medially of itslength as at IT, and is annexed to the front channel I I by round headedcarriage bolts I8, I83, having square shanks which pass through the soleplate I6 and ride in the said slot I! so as to remain non-rotative asthe nuts of the bolts lying within the channel are tightened.

A front wheel journal yoke or housing I9, preferably converginglyU-shaped in cross section is mounted in inverted and canted position tothe front extremity of the front channel II and has flanges or sides 29,29, recessed for wheel axle passage, and also has an inner limb 2|longer than the outer limb. The sides I2, I2, of the channel II arepreferably bevelled to slope upwardly in forward direction and areflared to receive the yoke which is annexed thereto by welding or thelike with the longitudinal axis of the yoke slanting upwardly andforwardly to form an acute angle with the longitudinal axis of theskate.

The yoke I9 is disposed to extend beyond the frame I9, and therebypermit the same to be low hung with the general outline of the dependingsides I2, I2, of the front channel II formed to accentuate streamlineappearance.

The inner transverse limb 2i of the U-shaped housing I9 islongitudinally slotted to adjustably carry a square shanked bolt 23 formounting an angle type journal plate 24 thereto with the forward orexposed face of the bracket lying in a plane at an acute angle with thesurface on which the wheels of the skate are to ride. This journal plateportion of the angle bracket 23 projects downwardly forwardly to theapproximate level of the lower extremity of the front frame sides I2,I2.

An axle 25 counterturned at its extremities to rotatively carry ballbearing wheels 26, 26, one for each side, and having a shoulder 21 ofenlarged diameter equal in length to the width of the plate 24, fiattedas at 29, with substantially flat upwardly converging sides adjacentthereto, is centrally disposed on the journal plate of the angle bracket24 for pivoted rotation thereon with the flat 28 cooperating with theforward face of the journal plate to constitute a pivoting journal.

The axle 25 is pivotally annexed to the journal plate 24 and thus to theskate frame II], by a pivot pin 29, which pin is rigidly mounted to theplate 24 in symmetrical and squared relation. The pin 29 passes througha central bore in the shoulder 21 of the axle 25 to carry an abutmentelement 39 in contact with the shoulder 21 opposite the flat 28, andlikewise passes through the yoke or housing I9 and: is threaded to carrya nut 3| in engagement with a boss 32 cf the yoke. It is preferred thatthe pin 29 is disposed to extend forwardly and upwardly at an angleapproximating 45 with respect to the plane of the skating surface.

The axle-journal plate construction described essentially constitutes alow hung fifth wheel disposed in angular relation for yielding axlemovement compound in relation to tilting of the frame.

The recessing of the sides 20, 29, or the flanging of the yoke I9symmetrically about the axle 25 affords an abutment means for positivelylimiting the axle 26 from assuming too great a steering angle orbecoming dangerously canted during skating.

An elastic bushing or cushion 33, of rubber or the like, is disposedwithin the housing I9 between the sides Ztl, 20, and the convergingfront and rear limbs to firmly but tensively embrace the axle 25 andrest against the face of the journal plate angle bracket 24.

As the sole plate I6 is tilted, as in Figure 7, the bush 33 is squeezedagainst the inward face of the housing on one side and the outward faceof the housing on the other side of the central shoulder of the axle.The flexing of the bush impedes steering action and tends to return theaxle to its normal squared position with respect to the longitudinalaxis of the skate.

As previously noted, the outer limb of the yoke or housing I9 and theinner limb 2I thereof are convergingly disposed in relation to oneanother With the bush or thrust cushion 33 in compressioned engagementwith the said sides and with the relatively flat side surfaces of theshoulder 21. The degree of compression thereof within the housing I9 andagainst the faces of the shoulder 2! determines the degree ofsensitivity of the steering movement of the axle as the sole:

plate is tilted or rocked to either side.

Therefore, to provide adjustability of the compressive force acting uponthe bushing and thereby provide adjustment of sensitivity of steeringaction, the angle bracket 24 is longitudinally adjustably. mounted tothe inner face 2! of the housing I9 through the bolt 24 residing in asuitable slot. By reason of the wedging action of the cushion 33 withinthe converging limbs of the housing I9 against the relatively fiat sidesof the hub 27, tightening of the nut 3I causes appreciable increase ofthe compressive force on the cushion acting on the sides of the hub,thereby tending to minimize the movement of the hub with respect totilting forces acting on the sole plate. Thus if the skates are to beused by a person of heavy weight the bolt 23 is unloosened and the nutSi is screwed down to draw the pressure plate 24 against the bushing 33and to increase the compression upon the same to thev .'.;1desiredtextent, .after which the bolt 23. :securing ..?-the pressure plateto-thexinnenface 21' of: the

.iforxuse. .-;usedv by a person of light weight, the pressure housing I9is tightenedand the. skate is ready Contrariwise, if the skates areto..be

. .acting on the rubber through @thesoleplate is correspondinglylessened to increasegsensitivity 3.101. the steering mechanism.

.xFigure .9 discloses a modification of theaxle by light weight persons.

, project rearwardly from the skate frame. Since the rear frame channelis substantially straight To multiply the steering effect obtained bythe --construotion hereinbefore described, the rear .wheel mountingcomprises a -mechanism similar in construction and numeraled similarlyto the front wheel mounting but oppositely'disposed to in longitudinalcross section, the-yoke IQ for the rear wheel mounting is annexeddirectly to flared sides [4, IA, of the rear channel IS, without the useof the filler plate 22 indicated at the front extremity of the skate.

l. By reason of opposite disposition of the rear .wheel mounting withrespect to the front wheel mounting, tilting of the skate sole plate toone side or the other causes the front and rear wheels to assumecomplementary angular steering positions with-the result that thesteering radius is doubly shortened, thus making the skate suitable touse for fancy skating wherein its characteristics and controllabilityare appreciably greater carried bysaid ,axlea than the ordinary rollerskate heretofore used.

The rear wheel 19 is mounted preferably with the upper extremity thereofin the same plane or abovethe plane of the top Web of the rear channell3 to afford a low hung mounting of the skate frame on the wheel axles.Thus both the front and rear wheel axles support the frame I0intermediate thereof with the skate adapted to support ones foot closeto the ground'to provide high stability whether the user is moving orstanding still.

To secure the skate to the shoe of the users foot, a heel housingbracket comprising a curved, guard 34 and a heel plate 35 is slotted tocarry an instep strap 35 appreciably inwardly from the rear wheels 2'!and rigidly mounted to the rear channel portion I3 of the frame l0...plate 34 is corrugated to include arecessed portion 37 wherein thebolts 18, I8, can pass when the skate is in the extremely shortenedposition and is stiffened by the indentations 38.

Disposed Within the apertures in thesides frame, front and rear axlesustaining yokes car- I2, of the front channel portion, which apertureswere made in the forming of the sole plate pro-v jections I5, H), aremounted adjustable cooperating toe clamps 39, 39. These toe clampscomprise opposed L-shaped brackets having downwardly dependingprojections at their opposed inner portions and have, at their outwardextremities, inwardly facing hook-like clamp projections which extendupwardly above the sole plate l5 for grasping engagement with the soleof the shoe of the skate user.

The downwardly depending opposed faces of the clamps 38, 38, are boredand threaded toreceive oppositely threaded portions of aright andleft-hand threaded clamp screw 40 having squared heads at its outerextremities and hav- The heel ment thereof.

ingf an. .undercut separating the oppositely threaded portions medial ofits length for resting engagement with a .slot of a downwardly. de-

.pendlng ,clip 4} mounted to the underside of'the ,frontiframe. channelH, whereby the screw is held against lateral displacement during therotation thereof for clamping. The clamps 3'8, 38,

are preferably slotted as at 42, to receive attachment rivets A2,. 42,one for each clamp-,passing therethrough and-sustaining theclampwassembly toithezisolee 1.5- in-slidablewengagement.with:1the

underside face of the sole plate projections l5,

.The relative disposition of the heel housing and toe clamp upon theskate frame assists in the accomplishment of stability of the skate. IThe heel plate is located appreciably forward of the rear Wheelmounting; likewise the toe-clamp is :mounted appreciably rearward" of"the front wheel: mounting. The area between the toe and than the wheelbase of the skate, whereby stability is afforded inhibitory of the skatetending to roll from under the user, as is frequently the case with oldtype skates.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A roller skate, comprising, front and rear wheel bearing axlemounting yokes, elastic liningsrespectively-forthe axle mounting yokes,a

foot bearing frame low-hung therebetween with said front and rear yokesextending endwise from said frame, an axle carried by each=yoke recessedin said elastic lining, and'rolle-r wheels 2. A roller skate,comprising, front and rear wheel bearing axle mounting yokes, anextensible frame of cooperating channel irons in nested telescopicrelation low-hung between said yokes .with the yokes extending endwisefrom said frame, and an axle for each yoke having Wheels rotativelyjournalled at the outer extremities thereof, said axles being pivotallyengaged with said yoke for angular steering movement compound withrespect to tilting of the skate frame.

3. A roller skate, comprising, front and rear U-shaped wheel bearingaxle mounting yokes, a footsustaining frame low-hung therebetween, anaxlerfor eachyoke pivotally annexed thereto for angular movementcompound with respect to tilting of the skate frame, wheels rotativelycar- 'ried externally of said'frame, and means carried bysaidyokes'forimpeding compound movement of said axles, comprising elastic bushes tocarry said axles in socketed relation in said yokes.

4. A roller skate, comprising, a foot-bearing ried by said frame for alow-hung suspension of .the frame, said yokes comprising fifth wheel 5.A roller skate, comprising, a rigidified foot sustaining frame, carryingmeans for fastening the same to a shoe intermediate the frameextremities, pivotsendwisely extending angularly upwardly from theforward and rearward extremities of said frame, centrally diametricallybored axles sustained onsaid forward and rear ward pivots for steeringmovement compound in relation to tilting of the skate frame, and rollerwheels rotatively carried at the outer extremities of said axles.

6. A roller skate, comprising, a foot bearing frame carrying means forfastening the same to a shoe intermediate the frame extremities, pivotsendwisely extending angularly upwardly from the forward and rearwardextremities of said frame, centrally diametrically bored axles sustainedon said forward and rearward pivots for steering movement in compounddirection when the skate frame is tilted, roller wheels rotativelycarried at the outer extremities of said axles, yoke housings enclosingsaid pivots and axle portions adjacent thereto, elastic bushesinterposed within said housing in compressioned embracement against saidaxles for impeding pivotal movement of said axles, and means for movingsaid housings toward and from said axle to vary the compressive force ofsaid interposed elastic bushes against said axles.

'7. A roller skate, comprising, forwardly and rearwardly facing journalplates each respectively disposed with the upper surfaces thereofangularly facing outwardly upwardly, a foo-t bearing frame carryingmeans for fastening the same to the sole of a shoe intermediate theframe low-hung between said journal plates, with said journal platesextending endwiseliy from the extremities of said frame, pivot pinscentrally disposed to extend upwardly from said faces of said journalplates with the longitudinal axes thereof lying at an acute angle ofapproximately 45 with respect to the longitudinal axis of the skateframe, centrally diametrically bored axles rotatively carrying wheels atthe outer extremities thereof disposed on said pivot pins, and flexiblemeans embracing said axles at the areas thereof adjacent said pivot pinsfor impeding pivotal rotation of said axles.

8. A roller skate including a foot bearing frame and wheel bearing axlemounting yokes at the forward and rearward extremities thereof, one ofsaid yokes comprising a cup-shaped housing disposed on said frame inangularly inwardly inverted position, a pivot pin movably dependingcentrally within said housing, a journal plate rigidly secured to saidpivot pin to provide a fifth wheel for said axle, a centrallydiametrically bored axle rotatively carrying roller wheels at the outerextremities thereof journaled with its bore embracing said pivot pin, ayielding bush interposed within said housing and against said journalplate to embrace the axle, and means for increasing and decreasingcompression of said yielding means against said axle to impede pivotalmovement thereof.

9. In a roller skate, a wheel assembly mounting therefor, comprising, ayoke having converging limbs and flanged sides to constitute a cuppedhousing, a journal plate across the open face thereof, an axle inpivotal engagement with the inner face of said journal plate, said axleextending beyond said flanges of said yoke in sidewise direction withthe flanges limiting the extent of axle movement, an elastic bushinterposed between said axle and said cupshaped housing, and means formoving the journal plate carrying the axle toward and from the bush,whereby the compression of the bush against the axle can be varied.

10. In a roller skate including a foot bearing frame, an axle and rollerwheels journaled at the outer extremities thereof and an axle mountingyoke for permitting yielding steering movement of said axle compound indirection with respect to tilting of said skate frame, said axlemounting yoke comprising a U-shaped housing having converging limbs, ajournal plate attached to one of said limbs to extend across the openextremity of said U-shaped housing, an axle having a central flattenedshoulder, said axle being pivoted with the flattened shoulder thereof inengagement with the inner face of said journal plate, said axle alsohaving substantially flattened sides adjacent said flattened surface, anelastic bush disposed within said housing to embrace said flattenedsides of said axle, and means for wedging said elastic bush converginglytoward the limbs of said housing to provide means for increasing thecompression of said bush against the sides of said axle.

11. In a roller skate, an extensible foot bearing frame including a soleplate and toe clamping means, said frame carrying axle bearing wheelmounting yokes at the forward and rearward extremities thereof inlow-hung relation, said frame comprising channel irons in nested,telescopic relation, one of said irons, constituting the front portionofsaid frame having depending sides partially blanked inwardly from theforward extremity of said skate to provide a toe clamp aperture with thepartial blank thereof bent upwardly to lie in the plane of the web ofthe channel and project outwardly therefrom to provide sole platesupport means.

12. A roller skate including a foot bearingframe and a wheel bearingaxle mounting fifth wheel yoke extending endwisely therefrom, said yokecomprising a U-shaped housing having converging limbs and flanged sides,a journal plate movably attached to one of said limbs for movementtoward and from said U-shaped housing and extending across the openextremity thereof, a pivot pin mounted on said journal plate to extendtherefrom to and through the closed extremity of said housing to carryan adjusting nut therebeyond, a centrally diametrically bored axlerotatably carrying wheels at its outer extremities, disposed on saidpivot pin for fifth wheel engagement with said journal plate, a shoulderon said pivot pin for sustaining the position of said axle thereonagainst said journal plate, and an elastic bush interposed within saidhousing to embrace said axle, tending to compressingly urge said axletonormally squared position in relation to said skate frame, saidjournal plate adjustment means being provided to wedge said elastic bushtoward and from said converging limbs to increase and decreaseflexibility of said bush.

13. A roller skate, comprising front and rear U-shaped Wheel bearingaxle mounting yokes, a foot sustaining frame low-hung therebetween, anaxle for each yoke pivotally annexed thereto for angular movementcompound with respect to tilting of the skate frame, wheels rotativelycarried externally of said frame, means carried by said yokes forimpeding compound movement of said axles comprising elastic bushes tocarry said axles in socketed relation in said yokes, and means forvarying the flexibility of said elastic bushes.

FRED H. GOOSMANN.

